Transportation of the Philippines

The transportation infrastructure in the country is relatively underdeveloped.

Partly this is due to the mountainous terrain and the scattered geography of the islands, but it is also the result of the government's persistent underinvestment in infrastructure. In 2003, only 3.6% of GDP went to infrastructure development which was significantly lower than that of some of its neighbors. Consequently, while there are 203,025 kilometers of roads in the country, only around 20% of the total is paved. The current administration under President Benigno Aquino III has been pushing to improve the country's infrastructure and transportation systems through various projects.

Nevertheless there are many ways to get around, especially in urban areas. Buses, jeepneys, taxis, and motorized tricycles are commonly available in major cities and towns. In 2007, there were about 5.53 million registered motor vehicles with registration increasing at an average annual rate of 4.55%. Train services are provided by three main railway networks that serve different areas of Metro Manila and parts of Luzon: the Manila Light Rail Transit System (LRT-1 and MRT-2), the Manila Metro Rail Transit System (MRT-3), and the Philippine National Railways (PNR).

Secretary Mario Montejo of the Department of Science and Technology (DOST) has set the goal of developing three types of train systems, in varying sizes, to answer the county's mass transport needs. The first train system is presently being tested on two test tracks at the U.P. Campus in Diliman and the DOST grounds in Bicutan. It is called the Automated Guideway Transit (AGT). It is an electric powered, fully automated driverless train that has a capacity of 120 passengers per coach and a top speed of 60 km/hour. The Hybrid Electric Road Train is the second type of train system under development. With a maximum capacity of 70 people per coach and four coaches per unit. It runs on ground level and not on elevated tracks so it can readily be commissioned in just a matter of months. And just like the AGT, it also runs on electric power. The third project is a full-scale passenger Train. The new trains will will be capable of running at top speeds of 90 km/hour. The prototype will also be ready by mid-2014. The electric motors are sourced from Germany, while the suspension system comes from Japan; However, the rest of the components are Philippine-made.

As an archipelago, inter-island travel via watercraft is often necessary. The busiest seaports are Manila, Cebu, Iloilo, Davao, Cagayan de Oro, and Zamboanga. Passenger ships and other sea vessels such as those operated by 2GO Travel and Sulpicio Lines serve Manila, with links to various cities and towns. In 2003, the 919-kilometer Strong Republic Nautical Highway (SRNH), an integrated set of highway segments and ferry routes covering 17 cities was established. Some rivers that pass through metropolitan areas, such as the Pasig River and Marikina River, have air-conditioned commuter ferries. The Pasig River Ferry Service has numerous stops in Manila, Makati, Mandaluyong, Pasig and Marikina.

There are 85 public airports in the country, and around 111 more that are private. The Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) is the main international airport. Other important airports include the Clark International Airport, Mactan-Cebu International Airport, Francisco Bangoy International Airport and Zamboanga International Airport. Philippine Airlines, Asia's oldest commercial airline still operating under its original name, and Cebu Pacific, the leading low-cost airline, are the major airlines serving most domestic and international destinations. Other low-cost airlines in the country includes AirAsia Zest, PAL Express, and Tigerair Philippines, these airlines have routes to several tourist destinations in the country at low prices.